Our Board

Allan Lamb - Chairperson

Allan is from Goodooga and has been a Director of REDI.E for a number of years. He is also a director of NTSCORP, which was previously known as NSW Native Title Service.

Allan is also the current Chairman of the Goodooga Local Aboriginal Lands Council.

Allan has been studying Languages and Linguistics through Batchelor College, Darwin. His interests include Rugby League supporting the West Tigers and Goodooga Magpies. Other interests include Aboriginal Languages / Cultures, Cricket, Men’s Issues / Business and family.

Joan Evans - Secretary

Joan was born Cobar 1937 and grew up there, as the oldest girl in a family of 12. Aside from a short stint working in Sydney, Joan has been a strong member of the Cobar community for her whole life.

She is passionate about work that benefits her community, and all Indigenous Australians, and has extensive experience across the various facets of Indigenous Affairs. She is currently the Chair of the Cobar Community Working Party and a member of the Cobar Aboriginal Lands Council. She is also a representative of the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly.

She brings a diverse working history to her role on the board, having worked for a number of local businesses, as well as her experience as the owner / operator of P&A Game Meats Pty Ltd.

She is currently actively engaged in a project to develop a bush tucker / native seed and grasses / horticulture enterprise at Cobar. Her interests include her family and 5 grandchildren, native plants, and researching and preserving Aboriginal culture.

George Fernando - Treasurer

George is an active, near lifelong member of the Walgett community. He was born on 11 September 1935 in Collarenebri, living at Angledool Mission until his family moved at the age of 5 to Gingie Reserve, Walgett where he still resides.

He is actively involved in and passion about the Dharriwa Elders Group, CDEP, Community Working Party and Dharriwa Youth Camps as well as being the vice chairperson for Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, Chairperson for the Walgett Community Working Party, and Chairperson for the Walgett RSD sit steering committee and North Western Aboriginal Lands Council. He is also a board member of the Walgett Aboriginal Legal Service and Orana Haven (Drug & Alcohol) facility in Brewarrina.

He is also a member of Murdi Paaki Regional Council’s Economic Portfolio Group.

Tannia Edwards - Director

Tannia is a Kunja woman from Bourke and now lives in Enngonia.

She worked for the Literacy for Life Foundation in Enngonia as a Facilitator/Co-ordinator for their YES I CAN program and previously, worked with Waste Aid in Enngonia. She brings this experience to her role on the REDI.E board.

Tannia is an active and contributing CEO of Murrawarri Aboriginal Land Council, and currently engaged in their native Bushfood garden project for the Enngonia community.

She is passionate about projects that delivers better outcomes for Indigenous Australians, to help break down barriers to achieve their goals and, to get people back in touch with traditional food and help preserve the Aboriginal culture.

Norma Kennedy - Director

Norma Kennedy is our new Board Member for Wilcannia (Far Western NSW.)

She has a strong background in advocating for indigenous communities, as shown by her experience as an Aboriginal Health Worker for 20 years. She was also the Secretary for the Mutawintji Land Council for 15 years.

Norma has previously worked for REDI as a supervisor for the RSAS programme. She believes communication with community members is essential to achieving our organisations goals - to create opportunities for prosperity and employment for people in the Murdi Paaki region.

Norma is a strong advocate for empowering women and strives to give them a bigger voice. One of her major goals for REDI is to implement more programs that can achieve this.

Our clients are her number one priority, because we exist to support them. She remains focused on achieving outcomes for them and this is what drives her decisions.

She is a fantastic addition to the board and we can’t wait to hear her ideas for the future. He is also a member of Murdi Paaki Regional Council’s Economic Portfolio Group.

Charlie McHughes - Director

Charlie McHughes has previously been a drug and alcohol worker at the Aboriginal Medical Service and Orana Haven. He is currently working for Clontarf, helping to forge positive pathways to life for young boys.

Charlie’s primary goals for REDI as an organisation are centered around connecting young people to their culture and identity.

He believes helping people understand who they are and where they have come from leads to empowerment.
Charlie has a strong focus on youth programs, as he believes they are the key to transforming some of the more disadvantaged areas in the region.

He works to get young boys involved in activities that provide an opportunity for growth and empowerment. He himself is involved in the local rugby club, mentoring some of the players.